Adam Coglianese / NYRA Photo

Rushing Fall wins Beaugay (G3) in Belmont spring/summer meet lid-lifter

by Brian Bohl

E Five Racing Thoroughbreds’ Rushing Fall showed no rust in her first start in eight months, with Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano sending her to the front for a lead she would not relinquish in her gate-to-wire victory in the Grade 3, $100,000 Beaugay for fillies and mares 4-years-old and up on Wednesday, Opening Day of the Belmont Park spring/summer meet.

The 43rd running of the Beaugay, contested at 1 1/16 miles on the firm inner turf, was the first of 40 stakes scheduled for the 25-day meet that runs through Sunday, July 12 and held without spectators.

Rushing Fall led the five-horse field through an opening quarter-mile in 24.59 seconds and the half in 47.95. Got Stormy, a fellow millionaire earner like Rushing Fall, challenged heading into the turn, but Castellano urged her at the top of the stretch and the More Than Ready mare powered home a two-length winner, completing the course in 1:40.71. 

“You could see right away that she was battling with [Got Stormy],” Castellano said. “She was so relaxed, when I asked a little bit at the three-sixteenth pole, she took off again. She put me right where I wanted to be. I wrapped her up in the last part. I’m looking forward to her next race.

“She is always right there and always ready. She is very consistent and I’m so happy to see she’s back the way she did it today. She improved a lot and we hope that we can have some fun for the rest of the year.”

The Chad Brown trainee improved to 9-2-0 in 12 career starts and won her 5-year-old debut, looking strong in her first race since running fourth in the Grade 1 First Lady in October atKeeneland.

“I have to give a lot of credit to the crew at Stonestreet Farm,” Brown said. “Ian Brennan and his team rehab a lot of our horses and they did an excellent job with her over the winter. I also give credit to [owner] Bob Edwards. He had her entered in the sale last year and he scratched her. She would’ve brought a lot of money. I’m so happy for him and his family. She came back better than ever.”

Brown said he is looking at the Grade 1, $300,000 Just a Game on June 27 at Belmont Park or the Grade 1, $350,000 Jenny Wiley on July 11 at Keeneland Race Course as potential next spots. 

Rushing Fall, a four-time Grade 1 winner, went off as the 4-5 favorite and returned $3.70 on a $2 win wager. She improved her career bankroll to $2,068,000.

“I give all the credit to Mr. Brown. He told me in the paddock that he wanted me to be on the lead. I saw two horses that had speed, but he’s the master,” Castellano said. “He knows what he’s doing and he knows the horses so well. I just followed the instructions. He gave me the best instructions to win the race, and I rode the best horse in the race. I’m so happy she’s back. Today, she was much the best and she proved that she belongs with the best Grade 1 fillies in the country.”

Call Me Love, making her North American debut after making her first eight career starts in Europe, rallied to finish second. The Christophe Clement trainee was 2 ¾-lengths clear of Passing Out.

Got Stormy and Xenobia completed the order of finish. Fifty Five was scratched.

Jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr. also enjoyed success on Opening Day, winning five of the day’s 10 races. Ortiz, Jr. captured Race 3 with Prisoner ($4.70) and followed with victories aboard Strongerthanuknow ($5.90) in Race 5), Madita ($9.90) in Race 6, Value Proposition ($11.20) in Race 8 and In the Loop ($4.60) in the finale.

Live racing resumes Thursday with a 10-race card highlighted by the $80,000 Tiller for 4-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the Widener turf in Race 9 at 5:36 p.m. Eastern. First post is 1:15 p.m.